Combination cabinet lock



March 1, 1932. G. 0'. FULL ET AL 1,847,392

COMBINATION CABINET LOCK F iled Feb. 28, 1929 3 2262 mondffimefzzrer a af Patented Mar. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE D. FULL, OFWINNETKA, JOHN J. NEITZ,OF NAPERVILLE, AND JOSEPH M.

IVIUNTNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND RAYMOND J. BUETTNER AND JOSEPH BIR-BA'UM, F Va EST ALLIS, WISOONSIN, A$ IGNOBS T0 DUDLEY LOCK CORPORATION,OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS COMBINATION CABINET LOCKApplication filed February 28, 1929. Serial No. 343,340.

This invention relates to permutation or keyless type locks, and moreparticularly to loo {S of that general character especially suited foruse in connection with various forms of losures, such as cabinets, deskdrawers, etc. he main object of the invention is to produce a lock ofgenerally improved and simplified construction, that will be economicalto manufacture, durable in use, and capable of free and easymanipulation. It consists in certain features and elements ofconstruction in combination as herein shown and described, and asindicated by the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an axial section through a lock embodying the presentinvention, shown secured to a cabinet door, with the lock bolt inlooking position.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken at lin 2 2 on Fig. 1, showing thelock bolt in locking position, with a tumbler indicated in dottedoutline.

Figure 3 is a section taken as indicated at line on Fig. 1, showin thelock bolt in unlocked position.

Figure -1- is a perspective detail'view of a part of the casing.

Figure 5 is a ien view looking into the casing part.

Figure 6 is an axial disassembly of the tumblers, spacers and spindlFigure 7 is a perspective detail of the cusing back plate.

igure 8 is a perspective view of the lock perspective detail of the locki ure 9 is a I r C bolt spun Fi ure the l 1: applied to a cabinet door.

The lock embodying the present invention is conveniently designed andconstructed for original installation, or for replacement of many of theconventional key type cabinet and drawer locks. As illustrated in thedrawings, the lock includes a casing comprising a substantiallcylindrical, cup shaped part, 110, having at its open end a plurality oftangs,

11, adapted to be firmly secured in apertures,

12, of the casing back plate, 13, which is fastened in any suitablemanner to the inside of 10 is a perspective view showing a mountingmember, herein shown as a cabinet door indicated at 14; the operatingknobs of the lock being projected through and beyond the face side ofthe door. As may be noted, the back plate is provided with elongatedapertures, 15, and open slots, 16, so located as to insure accommodationto former or original fastening elements of a lock being replacet Theouter edge of the back plate is formed with an upstanding flange, 17,adapted to be inset in the mounting member, as shown in Fig. 10. Theflange serves to reinforce the mounting and is formed with a slot, 18,for guiding the latch end, 19*, of a lock bolt, 19, as it is removedinto and out of locking position the edge of the cup shaped casing part,10, adjacent the'back plate, 13, being recessed at 20 to provideclearance for the locking bolt.

The lock bolt is formed of relatively thin fiat stock, mountedforreciprocable movement in sliding contact with the inner surface of thecasing back plate 13, and is provided with an elongated slot, 23,opening at the end opposite the latch end 19 One of the longer edges ofthe slot (herein shown as the bottom edge) is formed with a plurality ofteeth, 24, spaced to form a rack, with which is cooperatively meshed atoothed pinion, 25, formed integrally in a spindle or shaft, 26, whichextends concentrically into the casing with the end portion beyond thepinion 25, extending through and journaled in aperture 27 in the casingback plate; the portion of the spindle projecting outwardly beyond theback plate being provided with a peripheral groove, 28, in which iscrimped or secured in a suitable manner, a split washer or flangemember, 29, adapted to abut against the outer surface of the back plate,for stopping the spindle against movement in one direction. The otherend of the spindle extends beyond the top of easing part, 10, and isprovided with an operating knob, 30, for convenient manipulation. Thusby rotating the spindle in the respective directions, the rack andpinion drive causes shifting of the lock bolt 19 into and out of lockingposition.

Formed on the inner side of the back plate is an upstanding rib ortongue, 33, of substantial length, extending parallel to the directionof movement of said lock bolt, and slidably engageable in a cooperatinggroove, ea, formed in the adjacent side of the lock belt, for insuringtrue guidance of the same throughout its entire range of reciprocation.

As may be seen in Fig. 2, the lock bolt is formed with offset portionsforming shoulders, 86, adjacent the latch end 19 adapted to abut againstthe inner side of the back plate flange, 17, for limiting its outwardmovement to locking position, and the inner end of the bolt is roundedat 37 to conform to the inner contour of the wall of casing part 10against which it abuts to limit its inward movement in unlockingposition. A substantially flat spring member, 38, is provided foryieldingly maintaining the lock bolt at either of its limits ofmovement. This spring member is held in place by its bent a pair oflongitudinally spaced notches, 42,

in the adjacent edge of the lock bolt; the spacing of the notchescorresponds to the respective locking and unlocking positions of thelock bolt. This feature of construction as will be more fully apparenthereinafter,

is of especial advantage in that once the combination has been set andthe bolt retracted to unlocking position, it cannot be unintentionallythrown, causing upsetting of the tumbler combination.

Movement of the lock bolt by the spindle 26 is controlled by a series ofaxially spaced, disk type tumblers l5 loosely mounted on the spindle andarranged for engagement with an upwardly extending pin 46, projectingperpendicularly from the fiat surface of the lock bolt. As indicated inFig. 2, the bolt is held in locking position by the tumblers abuttingagainst the pin 16 in tangential relation. Said tumblers are eachprovided with a peripheral notch, 47, adapted to register with the pinwhen the tumblers are set in a predetermined arrangement or combination,providing clearance for the pin,

permitting the lock bolt to be retracted to unlocking position. It willbe apparent that in moving the lock bolt into or out of lockingposition, the tumblers (which are set in combination) are caused torotate in engagement with the pin. The tumblers which are here in shownas metal stampings are formed with interengaging driving lugs 48 bywhich the tumblers are adjusted, one by the other, as usual, for settingup a predetermined arrangement or combination for releasing the lockbolt. Interposed between the tumblers are horse shoe shaped spacerwashers 49, and a bearing washer is interposed between the lower tumblerand the lock bolt 19. These washers are each formed with a pair ofnotches 49 and 50 respectively, adapted to cooperatively en age with thepair of longitudinally extending ribs 51 formed on the inside of the cupcasing part 10, and adapted to permit axial movement of said washers,but positively restraining against rotative movement. Preferably, theseribs and notches in the washers are located so as to be equidistant fromthe medial position of movement of the pin of the lock bolt so that thewashers may be symmetrical in outline and hence reversible.

The upper or master tumbler as shown in Figs. 1 and 5 is rigidly securedto the inner end of a tumbler actuating knob 55, and is rotatabletherewith for adjusting the other tumblers. Associated with the knob andmaster tumbler is a spring clip 56 formed to cooperate with a series ofdepressions 57 in the inside of the casing top 10 for producing audiblesounds and tending to yieldingly arrest rotation of the knob each timesaid knob is turned a fractional unit of rotation, corresponding to thedistance between depressions, and causing registration of the clip 56with one of the depressions; thus in setting one of the tumblers incombination, one may be guided by the clicking sounds or the sense offeel in rotating the knob.

The top of the cup shaped casing part 10 is formed with a drawn outsleeve 60 serving as a bearing in which is journaled the tumbler knob55; said knob being form-ed as a hollow tubular member disposedconcentrically about the spindle and extending beyond the bearing sleeve60, and adapted to be projected through the mounting member 14-. forconvenient manipulation. This knob is reduced at 61 to form a shoulderfor abutment against the end of sleeve 60 for limiting axial movement ofthe knob and swivelly securing it to the casing part 10. The outer endof the hollow knob serves as a journal for the enlarged portion 26 ofthe spindle, and terminates short of the lock bolt actuating knob, 30. Acoil spring 63 circumscribes the spindle abutting against theenlargement 26 at one end, and against the washer seat to exert pressureagainst the tumblers for yieldingly maintaining them in driving relationand in frictional contact with the spacers and the bolt 19.

Theouter end of the lock bolt operating knob 30 is provided with anarrow or equivalent directional indicating characteristic designed tovisibly indicate the position of the lock bolt, and as shown in Fig. 10,the arrow points in the direction to indicate when the lock bolt is inlooking position; if the knob is turned so that the arrow points in anyother direction than toward the edge of the cabinet door, it indicatesthat the lock bolt is out of locking position. This feature isespecially helpful Where a large number of cases or cabinets are fittedwith locks of this type, so as to readily indicate at a glance whetheror not the doors or drawers are all locked.

This arrow on the lock bolt operating knob 30 also provides a neutral orinitial starting point, and for this purpose the tumbler knob is formedwith a longitudinal groove 66 which should be registered with the arrowupon commencing the adjustment of the tumblers for setting them in thepredetermined arrangement or combination.

The operation of the lock is substantially as follows: The tumbleradjusting knob, 55, is rotated several revolutions in one direction(dependent upon the manner of original as-' sembly for determining thelocks combination) and the groove, 66, is then aligned substantiallywith the arrow on the end of the bolt-operating knob, 30, as the neutralor initial starting point. The knob, 55, is then rotated in onedirection a predetermined amount which may be understood to beinclicated by the number of clicking sounds produced by the flat spring,56, engaging in the depressions, 57, on the inner surface of the casingwhich will then properly position the bottom-most tumbler of the series,and then by reverse rotation a predetermined amount the second orintermediate tumbler is adjusted, and againby rotating said knob in theopposite direction the top or uppermost tumbler is positioned so thatall of the tumblers are aligned with their peripheral notches, 47,adapted to receive the upstanding pin, 46, of the lock bolt. Then by.rotating the lock bolt operating knob, 80, its pinion, 25, meshing'withthe rack formation, 2%, of the bolt will thus retract the bolt in thecasing, overcoming the reaction of the spring keeper, a1, which may thenengage in the forward-most notch, 42, for holding said 301i] inretracted or unlocking position. The lock is projected to operative orlocking position by first rotating the knob, 30, in opposite directionso as to project the latching end, 19 of the lock bolt into lockingposition and then the tumbler adjusting knob, 55, is rotated (preferablyat least a single revolution) so as to shift the tumblers for disposingtheir peripheral notches, 47, out of alignment and thus insuring that atleast one of the tumblers will have its solid peripheral edge disposedfor encounter with the projection, 46, of the lock bolt and precluderetraction of the lock bolt in the casing until said tum lers have againbeen adjusted in their predetermined arrangement.

lVe claim 1. In a permutation look, a casing, a lockbolt, movablysupported in a casing provided with an elongated slot having one edgeformed as a toothed rack, a spindle extending into the casing andprojecting into the slot of said lock-bolt, said spindle having a fixedpinion meshed with the rack adapted for shifting said lock-bolt into andout of locking position by the rotative movement of said spindle, andtumbler mechanism in the casing disposed concentrically about thespindle and arranged for directly controlling the movement of saidlock-bolt independently of the spindle.

2.111 a permutationlock, a casing, a lock bolt slidably supportedagainst the back wall of the casing and provided with an elongated V,opening having one edge formed as a toothed rack, a lock-bolt actuatingspindle extending into said casing and having a pinion integral-1 lyformed therein adjacent the inner end, meshed with the rack for shiftingsaid bolt into and out of locking position, the teeth of 3 said pinionlying within the diametral outline of said spindle, and tumblermechanism in the casing disposed concentrically with respect to thespindle and operable independently thereof for controllin the movementof the lock-bolt.

In the combination defined in claim 2, the pinion end of said spindleextending through the back-wall of the casing and be ing provided with aperipheral groove, a flange member disposed in the groove and adapted toabut against the exterior of the casing for limiting axial movement ofsaid spindle in one direction. v Y

a. In a permutation lock, a casing, a lock- 10b bolt of substantiallyflat, uniform thickness, slidably mounted in the casing, provided with alaterally extending pin, said bolt having a toothed rack extendinglongitudinally ofits V direction of movement, a spindle having one endprovided with a knob and the other end extending into the casingprovided with pinion meshed with said rack for shifting the lock-boltinto and out of locking position, a series of spaced tumblers for controlling the movement of said bolt arranged concentrically about saidspindle and having interengaging features for adjusting one with respectto the other, said tumblers normally abutting said pin in tangentialrela- M tion for holding the lock-bolt in looking position, each of saidtumblers having a peripheral recess adapted when positioned inregistration with the pin to permit movement of the bolt to unlockingposition, and means for adjusting said tumblers in such position.

5. In the combination defined in claim 4, the front Wall of the casingbeing formed with an annular outwardly extending sleeve, said tumbleradjusting means including an annular knob disposed c0ncentricallyab0utthe spindle, and having a reduced partjournaled insaid sleeve, forming ashoulder, abutting against the end of the sleeve for limiting stationarywhen it is moved to unlocking position, the recesses of said tumblersbeing positively engagec by the pin of the bolt vhen the bolt stands inunlocking pos1t1on.

7. ln a permutation look, a casing, a lockbolt slidably mountedinthecasing and having a laterally projectlng pm, said bolt having atoothed rack, a spindle having an operating knob at one end, the otherend extending into the casing and having a pinion meshed with the rackfor shifting the lock-bolt into and out of locking position, a series ofspaced tumblers for controlling the movement of said bolt, arrangedconcentrically about the spindle and having inter-engaging features foradjusting one with respect to the other, means for actuating thetumblers, said tumblers being of substantially circular outline andbeing normally positioned to abut said pin in tangential relation formaintaining the bolt in looking position, each of said tumblers having aeripheral notch adapted to be registered witi the pin when the tumblersare set in combination to permit shifting of the bolt by rotation of thespindle to unlocked position, suca movement of the bolt causingcorresponding rotational movement of said tumblers as a unit, byengagement of their notches by said pin, and means adapted to yieldinglymaintain said lock-bolt and tumblers in such position.

8. In a permutation look, a casing, a lockbolt slidably mounted in thecasing and having a laterally projecting pin, a spindle having anoperating knob at one end, the other end extending into the casing,means connecting said other end of the spindle with the lock-boltshifting said lock-bolt into and out of locking position, a series ofspaced tumblers for controlling the movement of said bolt, arrangedconcentrically about the spindle and having interengaging features foradjusting one with respect to the other, means for actuating thetumblers, said tumblers being of substantially circular outline andbeing normally position to abut said pin in tangential relation formaintaining the bolt in looking position, each of said tumblers having aperipheral notch adapted to be registered with the pin when the tumblersare set in combination to permit shifting of the bolt by rotation of thespindle to unlocked position, such movement of the bolt causingcorresponding rotational movement of said tumblers as a unit, byengagement of their notches by said pin, spacer members interposedbetween said tumblers each having a central opening to permit engagementof the tumblers, said spacers each having an opening located to permitunhampered movement of the pin.

9. In a permutation look, a casing, a lock bolt slidably mounted in thecasing, said bolt having a toothed rack extending longitudinally of itsdirection of movement, a spindle having one end extending exterior-Ly ofthe casing forming a knob and the other end projecting into the casingand provided with apinion meshed with said rack for shifting tle lockbolt into and out of locking position in response to rotation of thespindle, a series of spaced tumblers for controlling the movement of thelock bolt disposed concentrically about the spindle and havinginter-engaging features for adjusting one with respect to the other, anannular knob disposed concentrically about said spindle knob androtatable independently thereof for adjusting said tumblers in apredetermined arrangement, said tumblers normall abutting in tangentialrelation a projection on the lock bolt for maintaining it in lookingposition, and each of said tumblers having a peripheral recess adaptedwhen positioned in registration with said projection to permit movementof the lock bolt to unlocking position, and a spring member encompassinga reduced portion of the spindle and reacting against a shoulder thereofand said tumblers for maintaining them in operative driving relationwith each other.

10. In a permutation look, a casing, lock bolt slidably supported in thecasing, a spinle having an operating knob at one end, the

other end extending into the casing and operably connected to said boltfor shifting it into and out of locking position, tumbler mechanism inthe casing controlling the movement of the lock bolt, and a tumbleractuating knob disposed concentrically with respect to the spindleoperating knob, said spindle knob carrying an indicating feature whichindicates by its position when the bolt is in looking position and thetumbler knob carrying an indicating feature which is movable relativelyto that of the spindle knob when the tumbler knob is rotated, saidfeature of the spindle knob serving without other index means to providea starting point for thetumbler knob in setting up the combination.

GEORGE D. FULL.

JOHN J. NEITZ.

JOSEPH M. MUN TNER.

RAYMOND J. BUETTNER.

JOSEPH BlR-BAUli l.

